THE STORY OF ORESTES. 151 one thing that might justly provoke the queen is to he done. He leads forth Cassandra, and_withjdnd con- siderate words recomi care. " But tliou this stranger-maid Lead in with courteous welcome. The high Gods Qn him who rules his slaves with gentleness VLook gracious : for to "bear the yoke of slavery Is a sore trial to the struggling will. And she, ofour rich spoils the chosen flower, The army's precious gift, f ollowsjne here. And sjn££_i£LYield to th.ee Ijim compelled, , enter I ^ The queen does not notice this request. She repeats her protestations that no profusion could be too great to welcome such ajjDrjjo^e, or to express her joyj and then she joins exultingly in the procession which leads him in. And her parting words are these : — " Jove ! Jove ! that all things perfectest, my prayers Bring to perfection ! to perfection bring What thou Jiast yet to do I Be this thy care." grand procession here enters the palace, and the stage is left vacant, except tha^ Cassandra is still Jjhere, sitting silent in her^chaript. But the notes of melancholy music call our eyes from the stage to the orcjifiskra, where the Chorus ismoving in mysterious figuresjibout thejltar, where it stands do wnjeneath us on the floor of the theatre. Fear — resistless inexpli- cable fear — is now the "burden of their song ; so that, though their own eyes have seen the safe return of the